Spillage collecting dispensers for powders and the like



J. M. KATZ May 20, 1969 SPILLIAGE COLLECTING DISPENSERS FOR POWDERS AND THE LIKE Fil'ed Feb. 5, 1968 FIG. 7

FIG.6

INVENTOR, Jacob M.Kotz,

Aff'ol-ney.

United States Patent US. Cl. 222-108 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rdtary bucket below a hopper is arranged to move about a half turn and discharge into an enlarged end of a swingably mounted tubular operating member; such bucket movement occurring when said operating member is swung downwardly at its other end, whereupon the material discharged will come into the palm of the hand manipulating said operating member. Spring means bias the operating member to a normal rest position where its discharge end is upward. Gearing is provided to make the bucket turn when the operating member is swung. An agitator rotatably mounted within the hopper is also turned by the gearing.

Specification The present invention relates to dispensers for powder and the like.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved dispenser of the kind mentioned, which will deliver into the hand manipulating the operating member, a measured quantity of powdered soap or other granulated material stored in the device, at each oscillation of said member, with sufiicient delay before the return stroke to assure that the measuring bucket has been emptied. In any event, should movement of the operating member be slowed or interrupted, no more than such measured amount will be discharged, and the device is spillage collecting or nonbleeding.

Another object thereof is to provide that the material be free-flowing from the storage hopper and protected from the atmosphere when still in the device.

A further object thereof is to provide a novel and improved dispensing device of the character set forth which is simple in construction, reasonable in cost to manufacture, easy to use, and eificient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

For one practice of this invention, a cylindrical block having a socket of predetermined capacity opening in its periphery directly below a hopper, is mounted for axial rotation about a horizontal axis, in bearing structure which is open on the bottom to allow the socket to be emptied when the block is moved a half turn. A tubular operating member extends in a radial direction with respect to said block which serves as the bucket, and intermediate its ends, said member is swingably mounted on a horizontal axis parallel to the other. Normally, said operating member is positioned forwardly upwardly of said bucket and there is a spring means to bias same to such rest position. The end of said tubular operating member, which is near the bucket, has an enlarged month which is under the emptying position of the bucket when said members other end is swung downwardly. Gearing is included to make the bucket move a half revolution upon the swing of the operating member of about a fourth of a revolution. If the operating member is set in the palm and encircled by the fingers of the users hand, the discharged powder will fall into the palm upon a downward swing of the operating member. A rotary agitator may be included within the hopper, to be driven by the gearing.

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In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

FIG. 1 is an elevational sectional view of a dispensing device for soap powders and other granular materials, embodying the teachings of this invention. The device is here shown in its normal rest condition, but its gears are omitted to attain clarity of illustration.

FIG. 2 is substantially like FIG. 1, showing the device in condition after its operating member has been shifted to cause a discharge.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bucket, which in FIG. 1, is in position to be filled from the hopper and in FIG. 2 is in position to discharge its contents into the receiving end of the tubular operating member.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the operating member.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an agitator which is included in the embodiment illustrated.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the gearing as associated in this dispensing device.

FIG. 7 is a front veiw of the dispenser.

In the drawing, the numeral 15 designates generally a dispenser device comprising a casing 16, whose front panel 17 has an opening 18, through which, forwardly extends an operating member 19 which is swingably mounted on the axis 20, in front of the lower end of a hopper 21 which discharges into the bucket 22 which is of predetermined capacity. This bucket is a cylindrical block 23, rotatably mounted for movement about its axis 24, and in its periphery, is the mouth of a socket 25, which is the buckets interior. The mouth rim of the discharge opening of the hopper is part of bearing structure 26, 26', in which said block 23 is rotatably fitted. If desired, a rotary agitator provided with the radial stiff wires 27 may be included for rotation within the hopper on an axis 28. All axes of rotation 20, 24 and 28 are horizontal and parallel. There is a gear train comprising a mutilated gear 29 fixed on the axis 20, in mesh with the separate gears 30 which is fixed on axis 24 and 31 which is fixed on axis 28; the gear 29 being about twice the size of the gear 30, so the bucket 22 shall move a half turn upon moving the operating member 19 about a quarter turn.

The operating member is tubular and its rear opening 32 is comparatively larger than its forward discharge end 33. In fact, I have made the tubular interior in the manner of a funnel, so all material discharged from the bucket 22 shall fall therein for delivery at the discharge end 33 out of which it falls by gravity into the palm of the hand working the operating member 19. A compression coil spring 34- is arranged to bias the said operating member to its normal rest position against the stopping edge 35 as in FIG. 1. When the operating member is in its discharging position as in FIG. 2, it is stopped by the edge 35' of the opening 18.

Plates on the faces of the block 22 keep it associated in the bearing structure, one such plate which may be a thin disc 36 is shown forming a flange on the rear face of the block; the flange disc on the front face being omitted to attain clarity of illustration; the threaded holes 37 being for screws for its attachment. The front plate 17 is shown having a free perimetrical margin around the casing 16 to allow the casing to be recessed in a wall. Manner of its mounting and removal from the wall and construction to have access to a removable top closure of the hopper to replenish its contents is well known in the art and is believed well understood without further illustration.

It is evident that when the exposed part of the operating member 19 is encircled by the fingers with the thumb on top in FIG. 1, and said member swung downward until stopped by the edge 35, that the bucket 22 will move about a half turn as in FIG. 2, whereupon the socket 25 will let its contents fall into the receiving rear end opening 32,- and such contents will then slide through the operating member and be discharged into the palm of the hand of the user. Upon release of hold on the operating member, the spring 34 will cause the apparatus to reassume its normal rest condition of FIG. 1.

It is to be noted that partial movement, or any interruption in the movement of the operating member 19, will never allow a discharge of material per oscillation thereof greater than the capacity of the socket 25.

It is suggested that for a practical and appearance-wise embodiment, the front plate 17 shall be of aluminum, the casing 16, of sheet metal, the gears of metal or plastic, the operating member 19 and the block 22 of plastic, with the operating member either black or white.

Good rotary fit of the block 22 in the bearing structure in which it is mounted to swing, and a tight fitting closure for the hopper, keep hopper contents protected from the atmosphere.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiment shown herein shall be deemed illustrative and not restrictive, and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific showing and description herein, to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a dispenser for powder or the like, the combination of a horizontally positioned bearing structure, a bucket member consisting of a cylindrical block having a socket opening in the periphery thereof and being of a predetermined volumetric capacity and of predetermined length along said periphery; said block being journalled in said bearing and normaly positioned at rest so that its socket is upright for filling, and swingable a part turn to a position whereas any contents within the socket would spill out therefrom by the action of gravity; said bearing having a first opening at filling position of the socket, and a second opening at the spilling position of said socket; said openings in the bearing being respectively communicative with said socket at its said positons, a tubular operating member transversly swingably mounted on a horizontal axis, whereby one end of said tubular operating member is under the second opening in the bearing and is adapted to receive any material spilled from the said socket when the second end of said operating member is swung downward, a hopper positioned above the said bearing, discharging only into the first opening in the bearing, means associating said tubular operating member and the bucket member, adapted to swing the bucket member from its filling to its spilling position, upon swinging the second end of said operating member downward to a first stop, and to swing the bucket member back to filling station, when said second end of the operating member is swung upward to a second stop, and means biasing one of said members to its normal rest position; said operating member when against said first stop, being sufliciently tilted that any material falling into it from the said bucket, will continue to be moved by the action of gravity and discharged from said second end of the operating member; such second end of said operating member being adapted to be held in hand for manipulation of said operating member so that material discharged will fall into the operators hand.

2. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the interior of the operating member is funnel-shaped, whose larger end is adapted to receive material discharged from the bucket.

3. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, including an agitator means swingably mounted within the hopper, in the region of the first opening in the bearing structure, and means associating said operating member and said agitator means, to swing said means on movement of said operating member.

4. A dispenseras defined in claim 3, wherein the means associating the operating member with said bucket member and with said agitator, consists of a train of gears.

'5. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the axis of swing of the bucket member and the axis of swing of operating member are parallel.

6. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the means associating the operating member with the bucket member consists of meshed gears.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,504,622 4/1950 Band et al 222108 X 2,559,522 7/ 1951 Sparacio 222247 X FOREIGN PATENTS 479,368 2/ 1938 Great Britain.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

H. 8. LANE, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 222227, 247, 359 

